The Use of E-Health Information and Health Behavior Change: The Role of Perceived Health Status and Types of E-Health Information Use

Abstract

This study assessed the relationship between the amount of e-health information use and changes in health behavior, with an emphasis placed on self-perceived health status and different types of e-health information use (purposeful, wary, and listserv). The results of the study indicated that people with low perceived health status were more likely to spend time online searching for health information. Additionally, the findings indicated that changes in health behavior as a result of e-health information use were most likely to occur in people with lower perceived health status in the purposeful e-health type. The implications of these findings for future research are also discussed herein.